News & Updates from the SSAT/DHH Team

Monday 09.09.2024

News & Updates from the SSAT/DHH Team

 

September is Deaf Awareness Month!

Governor’s 2024 Deaf Awareness Proclamation

 

Honoring North Carolina’s Deaf Community During Deaf Awareness Month

Recognizing Deaf Awareness Month demonstrates North Carolina’s ongoing commitment to promoting communication equity among all of our state’s residents.

 

What can you do to celebrate Deaf Awareness?

Visit the National Deaf Center for some ideas.

 

NEW:

 

Upcoming Workshops

Interpreting as a Related Service: There are many things that interpreters do as “just part of the job” but is it documented appropriately? This training will review the IEP process and how interpreting as a related service should look like on an IEP and who / when they should have it added. 0.4 PS CEUs will be awarded. This face to face training is scheduled to take place November 4th from 9:00-1:00pm. To register, use the following link. 

 

Use of Space in educational settings: This face to face training is scheduled to take place on Saturday October 12th from 9:00-3:00pm. This training session is for educational sign language interpreters working with students who are deaf and hard of hearing. Use of space is an area of weakness on the EIPA assessment for NC and this workshop will provide strategies to improve the interpreting product 0.6 PS CEUs will be awarded. To register for this professional learning, use the following link. 

 

Intervener Cohort Training Opportunity

The East Carolina University Teacher Support Program (ECU TSP) is excited to announce the

2024-25 Intervener Cohort training opportunity! It is designed for those currently working

directly with learners with DeafBlindness in intervener or instructional assistant positions,

including paraprofessionals, teacher assistants, and one-on-one paraprofessionals. To learn more, view the Cohort interest letter.

 

REMINDERS:

 

Registration Open: 73rd Conference on Exceptional Children

All up-to-date information for the 73rd Conference on Exceptional Children can be found on the OEC Website under Technical Assistance and Professional Development. Go there to find participant registration, hotel registration, EOE nominations, and much more.

 

ECATS Hearing Screening Updates

Beginning Friday, August 23, 2024, users will see enhancements to the hearing screening section in the Referral and Eligibility Processes in ECATS. Details are included in the Hearing Screening Updates.

 

UNC Hear N’ Now Fall Conference

This event is on Monday November 18, 2024.  Please see the following link for the conference agenda and registration information. UNC 2024 Fall Conference.

 

Some seats still available!

Under Construction: Building Language Skills for Students who are DHH

This professional development training will focus on the receptive and expressive language development of students who are deaf and hard of hearing of varying ages. This session will provide skills, strategies, and resources to support language development and encourage collaboration amongst professionals working with these students.  Participants will be granted 6 hours (0.6 CEU credits) for attending this in-person training. 

Eastern Location:  Thursday October 3, 2024 Goldsboro, NC (Wayne County) 

Registration Link: Language PD.Wayne County  

Western Location:  Thursday October 10, 2024 Lenoir, NC (Caldwell County)

Registration Link: Language PD. Caldwell County

Central Location:  Wednesday October 30, 2024 Greensboro, NC (Guilford County)

Registration Link: Language PD. Guilford County

Freeing the Butterfly Conference 

Freeing the Butterfly Conference is being presented by Language First on November 6-8 in Wilmington NC. Registration is now open. Click here to register and for more information. There is also a scholarship for those who work with 0-3 sponsored by AIDB. NCAD is also offering a scholarship for SLPs who work with students from birth-18.

 

DeafBlind 101 Workshops

Do you work with learners with extensive support needs and/or DeafBlindness? Join us for a day long free workshop!  Registration includes a day packed with rich learning opportunities and resources. For more information, you can visit our website to view the October 4, 2024 or October 15, 2024 offerings, or view the Course Flier.

 

New Tip Sheet: DeafBlind Intervener Services: Related Service or Supplementary Aids and Services?

A DeafBlind Intervener is a person who works consistently with an individual with combined hearing and vision loss (i.e. DeafBlindness) to help provide access to information, develop and use communication skills, and establish relationships on a one-on-one basis. This new DeafBlind Intervener tip sheet details how a DeafBlind Intervener might be documented in a student’s IEP. As a reminder, there is an existing technical assistance package with more information about DeafBlind Interveners. For more information, contact Virginia Madorin.

 

IMPORTANT LINKS:

 

SSAT/DHH Canvas Hub

Deaf & Hard of Hearing Canvas Hub

 

Office of Exceptional Children: Professional Development Calendar

NCDPI Calendar of Events in Calendar View 

NCDPI Calendar of Events in List View